There's a scene towards the end of the 1960 movie version of the classic story Swiss Family Robinson in which the family, marooned on the island for quite some time now, have to fend off a group of pirates that have come ashore and are up to no good.

In it the family continually fights off the villainous pirates, only to have them spring back to life as if they hadn't just had a boulder hurdled at them or some such. As children, my little brother and I found this scene to be incredibly funny, as it seemed no matter what the Robinsons did, the pirates just would not die. As a result of the enjoyment we got out of this scene, we came to use the term "like the pirates" throughout our youth when something lasted for a comically and/or otherwise unexpectedly long time before running out or dying.

To this day, when something continues to keep going strong far longer than it was excepted to, I crack a smile and think back to those resilient Disney pirates. Over the course of 2012, the battery (technically, batteries, as he uses a grip that houses two batteries) in Tony's Canon DSL did just that. Time and time again we'd whip it out for a shot and they'd still be going strong, despite often shooting a hundred or two image per outing time and time again. It was handy indeed, and while we of course had no qualms with charging the batteries again before they reached the end of their current charge, we were both more than a little curious to see how just how long they would last for.

The answer to that question was delivered last month on Boxing Day when stopped to take a few snaps at Skaha Beach on the south end of town. After just a couple of minutes, the batteries (which, to be fair, had been showing an ever-decreasing amount of charge for a couple of months now) finally gave up their last ounce of life for the day. We were just taking pictures for fun and as this wasn't a particularly important shoot, we didn't mind and had a good laugh over the fact that they'd finally been defeated - or at least in need of another charging.

To grab a couple more photos, Tony whipped out his iPhone, and so two of the photos today were shot with that, whereas the rest were with the Canon. The batteries were charged up again shortly after we got home and it will be fun to see just how many months they give us again this year before they need to be charged once more (neither of us can seem to remember just when they were charged last prior to this, but we estimate eight to twelve months ago).

Throughout 2012 I introduced you to Okanagan Lake (in posts such as this one about the S.S. Sicamous), the larger of the two lakes between which our town in sandwiched, and discussed the smaller one, Skaha Lake, in this post, but I haven't shown it to you before today. Skaha is the first thing that greets visitors as they drive (or fly) into Penticton from southern destinations in the province, and while it pales in size to Okanagan, it is still a very respectable lake in its own right.

During the warmer months, just as Okanagan Lake is, Skaha (which means dog in a local First Nations dialect - so hence the original name given to it by early French explorers of the area, Lac Du Chien) is a massive tourist attraction, as well as a familiar haunt for many locals. Then, as now, when I was growing up, my family tended to spend more time at Okanagan, as it was closer to our home, but I've certainly swam at many of the beaches around its perimeters over the years, too.

As with most beaches the world over, Skaha doesn't see too much action during the colder months, which is part of the reason I love spending time there during the fall, winter and early spring. Though the waters are too cold to dunk your toes into (unless you're keen on doing polar bear dips!), there is an unmistakable serenity to the watching the water lap at the toast hued sands, tall (often - as in these photos - snow covered) mountains surrounding you on either side, and few other visitors to interrupt moments of peaceful thought and contemplation.

On this day, there was light snow and an icy wind blowing all around us, and I was very, very careful to watch my footing as I carefully made my way out towards the end of the little boat dock down near the marina, lest I take a tumble and end actually end up doing an unintentional polar bear swim! Thankfully such was not the case, but the exposed skin on my forearms was still mighty chilly, let me tell you!

I'd already been suspecting as much, but once I saw these photos uploaded on the computer, I knew for sure (as I touched on in two posts earlier this month) that I needed to trim the bangs on this wig. For some reason - most likely the hat pushing the whole wig further down on my head - the bands just look comically long (and full) here, so later that night at home I ultra carefully gave them a trim, and now like them a million times more (thus in all future posts featuring this wig, the bangs will be a bit shorter and you can see my eyebrows properly again).

I've never been big on spending Boxing Day out shopping (especially since most stores now have Boxing Week sales, which means you've got ample time to bargain hunt, if you're so inclined), instead I prefer tranquil post-Christmas days like this, spent outdoors or perhaps inside hunkered down in front of a warm fire, holiday feast leftovers and hot cocoa at the ready.

While my arms, ok, all of me, was a bit cold, I was also very happy and content, and didn't mind at all when the camera battery died. It just meant the setting became even more serene without the sound of clicking to interrupt the peacefulness of this little slice of Okanagan winter heaven (with nary a pirate anywhere in sight).

Lovely as usual. This lake is stunning. If I ever get to Cananda, I'd love to see it. And of course snap a few shots. I always thought it'd be interested to travel to Cananda by train instead of plane, mainly because you get to see the beauty better than if you were on a plane.

Thank you very much, sweet Sean. Ohhhh, I really hope you get to see Canada by train one day. I've always dreamed about doing so as well! It's wildly costly, but I suspect it's one of those once-in-a-lifetime experiences that ends up being worth more than the investment involved.

That dress fits you perfectly! Love the red little hat. The background is very pretty too. I love lakes and snow covered mountains. There's a pond that has been frozen for a couple of months now. It snowed yesterday and it looked so pretty being covered in snow.

Thank you very much, Trina. You're right, there is an Alaska-esque vibe to these shots. I love living somewhere surrounded by mountains again. I had mountains around me during my whole childhood, and found it truly strange to not be wrapped in their constant embrace as I got older and lived in places like Calgary, Toronto, and Dublin, Ireland. Just as some people need the sea, I really do believe I need mountains around me.

I've heard of, but not seen the Wilderness Family. Hopefully Netflix Canada has it.

It's a 1970's show I used to watch as a kid, they move out to the wilderness, surrounded by mountains and just live life with many ups and downs. It's kind of funny watching it as an adult now, because they make a lot of bad choices living out in the wild. Here is a trailer for it.

Very cool, thank you for the link, Trina. I've always loved the great outdoors and even find the idea of roughing it (wilderness survivor) style rather appealing (if only for short periods of time), so I'm sure I'd enjoy seeing more of these shows. Netflix Canada doesn't seem to have them (rats!). But you never know, they might add them or a TV channel that we get might run repeats.

I love the Okanagan, but have only ever been in the summer when it is super hot but I love it. But I sure would like to experience it in the winter. That hat is adorable and the print on that dress I love it. :)

Hi sweet Stefanie, I really hope you get, too, it's so lovely here during this time of the year. Yes, there's a bit less to do outdoors, but the gorgeous snow covered hills help make up for that because you're so busy staring at how serenely lovely they are. :) If you're into skiing and/or snowboarding, there are some awesome hills around these parts (Apex, Big White, Mt. Baldy, etc). Be sure to let me know if you're ever up this way again - I would absolutely love to meet up.

Love these images. I can feel the presence of winter in them:) I especially like the last photograph. It reminds me of one I might find taped into one of those old photograph albums where it had the glue type material as a base and always turned yellow. I wonder if photo albums will be come a thing of the past too:) I love the thickness and curl in your "hat hair". Your outfit is just lovely:) So glad that you are able to enjoy these moments in nature. I love to see images of Canada:) I think I've told you that B.C. is on my grand to do list in life:)

Thank you very much, dearest Joanna. I adore your description of the last photo (and totally agree with it). It was snapped with Tony's iPhone, which helped give it a grainy quality which in turn helps it feel a bit aged. Oh, I hope that photo albums don't go the way of the dinosaur, but wouldn't be entirely surprised if they do one day. Though I make scrapbook pages and fill albums with those, I must admit, I don't put nearly as many (new) photos into physical albums these days as I did back when we were all using film.

I truly hope that you're able to visit B.C. one day. There isn't a single corner that I don't think is gorgeous. We have so many different landscapes here - from the lush Pacific coastline to the arid Okanagan, the mountainous Kootaneys to the ultra green Cariboo region. I'm sure you'd love British Columbia to bits and pieces no matter where you visited.

this is out of world! you look so darling and beautiful here! perfection from head to toe again! i adore the cute little hat and the shrug, the dress, the belt, well everything. you have so impeccable taste and sense of style. also the scenery of the fotos is marvelous!wish you a great week!kiss,maryhttp://www.maryloucinnamon.com/

These photos were definitely worth braving the cold for because they are simply gorgeous! I love seeing the beautiful icy landscape in your photos, it makes such a nice backdrop for all of your winter outfits! The Canadian landscape is so beautiful, it reminds me a little of Russia and seeing your photos makes me a little homesick. I haven't seen snow since I was 14! I love your little hat so much, it looks so beautiful against your auburn hair and compliments your Russian Red (my favourite MAC too!) beautifully. Your hair and hat in this photo really brings to mind Satine from Moulin Rouge :)

Thank you very much, darling gal. I love that these images conjured up thoughts of Russia for you. I have a wee bit of Russian blood in me, too (on my paternal grandpa's side) and have always dreamed of seeing Russia firsthand one day.

Fabulous outfit and scenery! I've found myself basking on the beach of skaha lake quite a few times in the past couple years, I love the okanagan! Being a BC girl myself Im wading through snow right now! the pleasures of living in the north :) Your blog is divine by that way ;)

Lovely lovely! I love that hat! And red is really your color! It's just stunning on you! I really need to learn to accessorise more - you are just such a natural at it! I love those shoes - they are the perfect vintage shoes to wear with everything!

Thank you very much, dear Nora. Lacking actual (let alone vintage or vintage appropriate) winter boots this year, these lovely black 40s style shoes (thrifted for a just a few dollars from Salvation Army) have been my absolute go-to pair this season. These shoes + black tights has practically been my daily wardrobe this winter. :)

Wow! I love this post and everything about it! :) You look fabulous as always, and the scenery is breathtaking. Let's see.. do i know which part of your outfit i like best? I love your hat. The color red really becomes you, and i love your gloves and all the bangles that decorate your wrists. It appears you've outdone yourself with this post girlfriend! Love it all..

These are lovely pictures, beautiful colours. I am in LOVE with your little shoe boot things! They're perfect! It's funny, I was just thinking how well the heavy fringe suits you, maybe it's just me. I quite like it.

Thank you very much, sweet dear. I didn't hate the longer bangs per se, they were just a touch too lengthy and pretty much completely obscuring my eyebrows, which was an unfamiliar sight to see on myself indeed. The new, slightly shorter length has nearly all the fullness you see here, just in a slightly shortly length.

thank you for your lovely comment on my blog Jessica, I'm sorry it's taken me so long to comment, I've fallen really far behind on Blogger this week. What beautiful photos, red and black is one of my favourite colour combinations and the white snowy mountains set it off perfectly. xx

I'm Jessica, a lifelong lover of all things antique and vintage, especially those from the 1930s, 40s and 50s.

This blog is my visual scrapbook in which I record and share my thoughts on the multitude of sources, people and products that inspire and feed a modern gal's addiction to the past. I also post about the vintage clothes, hairstyles and make-up looks that I adore wearing.

Stay a spell and have a blast as we explore the incomparably fantastic world of vintage history and fashion together.

All images used on this site are credited to their original posters/creators/sources,
however if at any time you would prefer not to see one of your images here, please email me and I'll take it down right away.

PS...I just wanted to say thank you very much for visiting and to tell you that you're equal parts awesome and beautiful.